Sorting device for goods to be transported especially in a suspended manner, and method for operating one such sorting device

Abstract

A sorting apparatus for conveyable articles which are conveyed, in particular, in a hanging state, for example items of clothing hanging on clothes hangers ( 10 ), has a sorting conveying path ( 14 ) which can be charged with the conveyable articles at at least one charging station ( 30, 32 ) and along which the conveyable articles can be conveyed in a conveying direction on driven running elements, for example individual hanger carriers ( 12 ). Branching off from the sorting conveying path ( 14 ) are a multiplicity of discharge branches ( 24 ), onto which the conveyable articles can be selectively discharged from the sorting conveying path ( 14 ) by discharge means. According to the invention, the sorting conveying path ( 14 ) is designed as an endless circulating path, the discharge branches ( 24 ) being combined into at least two discharge banks ( 26, 28 ), which are distributed along this circulating path ( 14 ) and between which in each case one charging station ( 30, 32 ) is provided.

1 . A sorting apparatus for conveyable articles which are conveyed, in particular, in a hanging state, having a sorting conveying path which can be charged with the conveyable articles at at least one charging station and along which the conveyable articles can be conveyed in a conveying direction on driven running elements, and having a multiplicity of discharge branches which branch off from the sorting conveying path and onto which the conveyable articles can be selectively discharged from the sorting conveying path by discharge means, wherein the sorting conveying path is designed as a circulating sorting path, and wherein the discharge branches are combined into at least two discharge banks, which are distributed along the circulating sorting path and between which in each case one charging station is provided.  
     
     
         2 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the discharge branches are divided up between a total of two discharge banks.  
     
     
         3 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the circulating sorting path is elongate, in that the discharge banks are arranged on in each case one longitudinal side of the circulating sorting path, in particular located opposite one another essentially centrally, and in that the charging stations are also arranged on in each case one longitudinal side of the circulating sorting path, in particular in the vicinity of the longitudinal ends thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the charging stations are arranged downstream, as seen in the conveying direction, of the discharge bank arranged on the same longitudinal side of the circulating sorting path in each case.  
     
     
         5 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in order to form the circulating sorting path, a plurality of conveying circuits with the same direction of circulation are arranged one behind the other, adjacent conveying circuits being connected to one another in each case by transfer means which allow transfer of the running elements between the respective conveying circuits.  
     
     
         6 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each charging station has at least one charging conveying path, which is connected to the circulating sorting path and via which running elements loaded with conveyable articles can be introduced into the circulating sorting path, and wherein at least some of the charging stations are, in particular each charging station is, assigned in each case at least one return conveying path, which is connected to the circulating sorting path and onto which empty running elements can be discharged from the circulating sorting path.  
     
     
         7 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the charging stations have a plurality of, but at least two, spaced-apart charging conveying paths, which are connected to the circulating sorting path and via each of which running elements loaded with conveyable articles can be introduced into the circulating sorting path.  
     
     
         8 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each charging conveying path is assigned a loading unit, by means of which running elements can be loaded with conveyable articles on the relevant charging conveying path.  
     
     
         9 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the loading unit comprises a screw conveyor for guiding the conveyable articles up to a loading location, at which the running elements can be loaded with the conveyable articles on the respective charging conveying path.  
     
     
         10 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the return conveying path is connected to each charging conveying path of the relevant charging station via a connecting conveying path, which is separate from the circulating sorting path.  
     
     
         11 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein by way of the discharge means, running elements which are moved to the discharge banks can be unloaded of their conveyable articles on the circulating sorting path and the unloaded conveyable articles can be transferred to the discharge branches.  
     
     
         12 . The sorting apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the conveyable articles are hung on carrier hooks, and wherein the discharge branches are formed by sliding bars, and wherein the discharge means are designed in order for conveyable articles which are unloaded from the running elements to be hung on the sliding bars by way of their carrier hooks.  
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a sorting apparatus for conveyable articles which are conveyed, in particular, in a hanging state, it being the case that the sorting apparatus comprises a sorting conveying path which is designed as a continuous circulating sorting path and along which driven running elements which are loaded with the conveyable articles can be conveyed, that branching off from the circulating sorting path are a multiplicity of discharge branches which are combined into at least two discharge banks distributed along the circulating sorting path, and onto which the conveyable articles can be selectively discharged from the circulating sorting path, and that provided between pairs of adjacent discharge banks is a charging station, at which empty running elements can be loaded with conveyable articles and introduced into the circulating sorting path, and at which running elements which have been unloaded of their conveyable articles on the discharge branches can be discharged out of the circulating sorting path, and wherein in the case of the method, 
 a) at least some of the running elements are loaded with conveyable articles at a first of the charging stations, and, once introduced into the circulating sorting path and unloaded of their conveyable articles, are discharged from the circulating sorting path at a second of the charging stations, loaded with further conveyable articles there and then re-introduced into the circulating sorting path.    
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a sorting apparatus for conveyable articles which are conveyed, in particular, in a hanging state, it being the case that the sorting apparatus comprises a sorting conveying path which is designed as a continuous circulating sorting path and along which driven running elements which are loaded with the conveyable articles can be conveyed, that branching off from the circulating sorting path are a multiplicity of discharge branches which are combined into at least two discharge banks distributed along the circulating sorting path, and onto which the conveyable articles can be selectively discharged from the circulating sorting path, and that provided between pairs of adjacent discharge banks is a charging station, at which empty running elements can be loaded with conveyable articles and introduced into the circulating sorting path, and at which running elements which have been unloaded of their conveyable articles on the discharge branches can be discharged out of the circulating sorting path, and wherein in the case of the method, 
 a) at least some of the running elements are loaded with conveyable articles at a first of the charging stations, and, once introduced into the circulating sorting path and unloaded of their conveyable articles, are discharged from the circulating sorting path at a second of the charging stations, stored on an interim basis there, and then re-introduced into the circulating sorting path, moved back to the first charging station and, there, discharged from the circulating sorting path and loaded with further conveyable articles.